Managed vs. Co-Managed IT Services

As businesses continue seeking ways to remain competitive, many are turning to co-managed IT solutions as an alternative to fully outsourcing their IT needs. From smaller startups to large enterprises, co-managed IT services can provide a hybrid approach that produces the best results for their organizations.
In this article, we’ll explore the differences between managed and co-managed IT services, why one should move towards a hybrid model of IT management, and the overall benefits.

What Are Co-Managed IT Services?

Co-managed IT services involve in-house staff and a provider, like Technology Response Team, collaborating on IT operations and maintenance. The MSP offers technical expertise, resources, and tools to supplement the existing internal IT team. This allows businesses to optimize operations without needing additional full-time staff or outsourcing their technology needs.

What Are the Differences Between Managed and Co-Managed IT Services?

Traditional managed services take over the majority of an organization’s IT responsibilities. Software updates and patch management, network monitoring and security, data backup and recovery solutions, and remote technical support are their typical services. In many cases, they may also be responsible for purchasing hardware and software licenses, setting up new users and systems, and overseeing the day-to-day running of the company’s IT infrastructure.
Meanwhile, co-managed IT solutions allow companies to maintain more control over their technology solutions, while benefiting from external expertise provided by a MSP. Your partner can take on specific tasks, such as security compliance audits or cloud migration projects that require specialized knowledge or skill sets that may not exist within an organization’s existing team members. A co-managed partnership saves businesses time and helps them remain active in responding to changing market conditions without hiring additional resources internally.

Why It Makes Senses to Co-Manage IT Over Fully Outsourcing Solutions

For many organizations that lack the experience or resources necessary for managing their technology solutions, co-managed services can provide a cost-effective alternative to fully outsourcing all of their IT needs. They can offer greater flexibility since they only require clients to pay for what they need at any time instead of committing to long-term contracts with predetermined project requirements outlined in advance.
By aligning themselves with an experienced MSP partner, like TRT, that specializes in providing tailored solutions based on specific client requirements, businesses can access cutting-edge technologies while still benefiting from expert advice whenever needed.

If your business is considering partnering with a co-managed IT service provider, it may also be time to upgrade your IT technology. Read more about these signs today.

Signs It’s Time to Upgrade IT Services

When it comes to IT services, it’s essential to stay on top of updates and advancements to keep your business running smoothly. However, it can be difficult to know when it’s time to upgrade your current IT infrastructure. Here are some signs that it may be time to consider upgrading your IT services:

Slow performance: If your employees constantly complain about slow load times or system crashes, it may be time to upgrade your software, or partner with a co-managed provider like TRT.
Security concerns: With cyber threats constantly evolving, it’s crucial to have robust security measures in place to protect your business from potential breaches. If you haven’t updated your security software in a while, it may be time to consider an upgrade.
Lack of support for new technologies: As new technologies become available, it’s important to ensure that your IT infrastructure can support them. If you’re finding that your current IT services can’t keep up with the latest developments, it may be time to look for an expert co-managed provider like TRT.
Difficulty scaling: As your business grows, your IT infrastructure should be able to accommodate that growth. If you’re finding that your current IT services can’t handle the increase in demand, it may be time to upgrade.

Benefits of Co-Managed IT Solutions

As previously mentioned, co-managed solutions allow companies to benefit from an external partner’s technical expertise, while maintaining control over their own technology infrastructure. These types of services are highly scalable depending on individual client needs, and offer attractive cost savings compared to traditional models. Let’s run through the in-depth benefits of co-managed IT services:

Improved Security

Are you looking to boost or revamp the state of your infrastructure’s security? Good news, a provider can help you stay on top of the latest security threats and technologies. They can provide a robust security infrastructure and implement best practices to keep your business data safe and secure.

Cost Savings

Outsourcing IT services to a co-managed provider can help your business save money in the long run. The provider can often purchase technology and services at a lower cost than your business could on its own. It can also provide round-the-clock monitoring and support at a fraction of the cost of maintaining an in-house team.

Increased Efficiency

Co-managed IT solution providers can take on day-to-day IT tasks, such as monitoring and maintenance, which frees up your internal team to focus on more strategic initiatives. This can lead to greater efficiency and productivity.

Choose Hybrid IT Management With Your Expert Co-Managed IT Solution Provider, TRT

Handling the various aspects of IT, such as network management, system needs, industry laws, cloud technology, cyber protection, voice-over-internet protocol, software updates, licensing, hardware changes, and data safety can be overwhelming for a small IT department. These difficulties increase as the company expands or if the current staff needs more expertise in an upcoming project. Co-managed IT services can address these challenges, resulting in more satisfied, efficient, and productive IT teams. Contact TRT today for the best partner in the industry.